• PROSPECT-UPDATE ARCHIVE
Team USA reigned supreme as the Under-18 Five Nations tournament came to a close on Saturday in Plymouth, Mich.
The Americans shut out the Finns 4-0 in the championship game in a truly dominant performance. You'll find one of the stars of that game on the list of Saturday's top draft-prospect performances below.
Despite the number of prospects in action, Saturday was a fairly uneventful day apart from the Five Nations. There were just enough strong showings for a full list of 10 here, but they weren't up to the typical Saturday standards of this highly talented draft pool. In any case, here's who made the lower-bar cut:
BEN ALMQUIST -- Wisconsin Badgers recruit Almquist picked up three assists for Victoria Holy Family on Saturday, helping the Fire rout Stillwater 5-1. All three were primary helpers. The first came on the opening goal at 4:59 of the second period. He then set up the game-winner for a 2-0 lead at 10:08. In the third, Almquist got his final assist on a power-play tally at 9:22, making it 4-1. The Minnesota Mr. Hockey candidate now has 55 points in 25 games this season, tying him for 14th in the state high school scoring race. He has posted multiple points in four of his last five games. (Note: Sixth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
JACOB BERNARD-DOCKER -- After missing some games due to injury, the Okotoks Oilers defenseman is back in form. On Saturday, Bernard-Docker scored a pair of goals in a 9-3 win over the Calgary Mustangs. Bernard-Docker connected for his first goal at 6:50 of the second period to make it 5-0 and scored again just under seven minutes later on a power play at 13:32 for a 6-1 lead. He now has 17 goals and 36 points in 43 AJHL games. North Dakota has a bright future on the blue line with recruits Bernard-Docker and the BCHL's Jonny Tychonick on the way. (Note: Fifth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
BRENDAN BUDY -- Budy was the No. 1 star of Langley's 5-3 win over Penticton on Saturday, finishing the game with two goals and an assist. The University of Denver recruit started with the lone assist on the opening goal at 7:17 of the first period. Just 61 seconds later, he scored on a power play to make it 2-0. He added an empty-netter at 18:46 of the third. This was Budy's first two-goal game and No. 1 star selection since Jan. 7. He now has 19 goals and 52 points in 45 BCHL games.
DREW DeRIDDER -- What a night it was for U.S. NTDP Under-18 Team goalie DeRidder, who stopped 33 shots in a 4-0 shutout of Finland to help his team win the Five Nations tournament on home ice. The Michigan State recruit made seven saves in the first period, 10 in the second, and a remarkable 16 in the third. He practically stood on his head in the final minutes to preserve his fourth shutout of the season and his first since Nov. 12. The only goalie to appear in four tournament games, DeRidder finished the Five Nations at 3-1 with a 2.52 GAA and .900 save percentage (Note: Sixth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
LIAM FOUDY -- Foudy was the no-brainer choice for No. 1 star of London's 5-4 OT win over Erie on Saturday. The Knights forward has been coming on strong of late as one of the hottest scorers in the OHL. Saturday was typical of this resurgence, as Foudy notched a power-play goal at 7:51 of the first period to cut Erie's early lead to 2-1 and later scored the dramatic winner at 3:18 of OT. He has 19 goals and 29 points in 53 games this year, but 17 of those 29 points have come within the past month, as he has cracked the scoresheet in 12 of 13 games. Foudy is riding a six-game goal-scoring and points streak with 11 total points in the run. (Note: Fifth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
DAMIEN GIROUX -- Giroux scored a goal and added two assists on Saturday in Saginaw's 5-3 win over Flint. The game's No. 1 star began his scoring march with an assist on the game's first goal just 25 seconds after the opening faceoff. He later scored at 3:36 of the third period for a 2-1 lead and had the primary helper on an empty-net, power-play tally at 19:42. Giroux, who ended a five-game goal-scoring drought, has had points in six of his last eight OHL games. His season totals are now 17 goals and 40 points in 55 outings. (Note: Third appearance on this list in 2017-18)
KEVIN HANCOCK -- Hancock will be 20 years old next month, which means this is his final chance to get drafted. If he doesn't, look for him to sign as a free agent. On Saturday, the OHL veteran posted three points (a goal and two assists) in Owen Sound's 9-6 win over Ottawa, claiming No. 2 star honors. After registering an assist on the 2-0 goal at 2:33 of the first period, Hancock went on to score a goal of his own to make it 6-4 at 12:15 of the third period and closed his night with the lone assist on an empty-netter at 19:37. It was a big weekend for Hancock, who had five points in two games. He has 17 goals and 47 points in 40 games this season, so it will be interesting to see if an NHL team decides he's worth a pick at age 20.
BLADE JENKINS -- Jenkins left the U.S. NTDP program to sharpen his game in the OHL, and he has likely raised his draft stock by playing at the major-junior level. On Saturday, Jenkins scored a goal and assisted on two others in Saginaw's 5-3 win at Flint. He needed only 25 seconds of the opening period for the goal that put his team up 1-0. In the third period, he assisted on a goal that made it 2-1 at 3:36 and had the primary assist on the game-winner at 11:49, putting the Spirit up 4-3. With goals in two of his last three games and points in three of his last four, Jenkins now has 17 goals and 37 points in 55 OHL games. (Note: Fifth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
RASMUS SANDIN -- The Swedish import defenseman continued to shine for Sault Ste. Marie on Saturday, scoring twice in a 7-1 win over Sarnia. In a draft filled with talented Swedish defensemen, Sandin has the edge of having played in North America. On Saturday, his goal at 19:42 of the second period stretched the Greyhounds' lead to 4-1. His power-play goal at 17:33 of the third bumped it up to 6-1. Sandin, who is riding a three-game point streak and back-to-back multi-point games, now has nine goals and 37 points in 40 OHL matches. (Note: Second appearance on this list in 2017-18)
TODD SCOTT -- The Edmonton Oil Kings' goalie, obtained in a WHL trade-deadline deal with Vancouver, made 29 saves in a 3-2 OT shootout win at Kelowna on Saturday. Scott, a Minnesota native who went the major-junior route, stopped 14 of 15 Rockets shots in the first period, nine of 10 in the second, all 10 in the third, one in OT, and all three in the shootout. He did not allow a goal over the game's final 39:08 en route to his first win since Jan. 31. (Note: Seventh appearance on this list in 2017-18)